Constitution amendment crucial to anti-graft war, says EFCC

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Lamorde, has said the amendment of the 1999 Constitution is important in the anti-corruption battle.

He made the submission at a one-day meeting of heads of anti-graft agencies on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Review, Recommendations and the Draft National Anti-Corruption Strategy at Barcelona Hotel, Abuja

He said some relevant laws in the Constitution needed to be amended before the adoption of an action plan towards the fight against corruption.

He also said the effectiveness of any anti-graft activity could only be judged by the number of convictions recorded

Lamorde said: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be considered in whatever strategies being developed.

‘’The challenge my colleagues and I are facing, especially in the EFCC and ICPC, is the issue of prosecution of corruption and economic and financial crimes cases in regular courts.

‘’All these include making new laws, amending existing ones and improving on the efficiency of adjudication and sanctioning.

He commended the efforts of the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other agencies.

A former Secretary to the EFCC, Emmanuel Akomaye, who spoke on the outcome of the Country Review Report and Follow-up Actions by National Partners, advocated better inter-agency coordination, building institutional capacity and legal reform.

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, said both the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal needed to be strengthened in order to be more effective in the fight against corruption.

But Lilian Ekeanyanwu, representing the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), said the implementation of the strategy document would be the responsibility of the Presidency.

Other participants at the meeting included the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), National Planning Commission (NPC) and Public Complaints Commission.

Also yesterday, the EFCC said the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had donated a forensic work station to it.

It said the donation of the equipment was a way of enhancing the collaboration between the EFCC and the U.S. in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “The equipment, technically referred to as FRED (Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device) was presented to the Head of Operations, Lagos Zonal office of the EFCC, Iliyasu Kwarbai by the U.S. acting Consul General, Dehab Ghereab.

Ghereab on her part praised the long-term partnership between the FBI and EFCC which has existed for more than a decade. She commended the EFCC for its professionalism and encouraged it to keep up the good work.

She said the equipment will enhance the EFCC’s effort in the fight against cyber crime and standardise its operations.

She said: “As we engage in these practices, we needed our counterparts. So, the FBI office made an assessment of the prevailing cases of cyber-based crimes which are not unique to Nigeria.

“In the views of Fritz Kennely, a technical personnel with the FBI, the device will help the EFCC in analysing, processing and preservation of digital evidence which can be presented in court in a clear, concise and understandable manner, thereby aiding judges to adjudicate effectively.”

After receiving the device, Kwarbai thanked the FBI for their support to the Commission in the areas of manpower development and investigation.

Obviously the laws relating to anti-corruption in Nigeria is too mild. That is why the opposition is insisting on the rule of law in fighting corruption in Nigeria. The Law should be amended to enable the anti graft agencies combat corruption effectively. For instance, the EFCC should be strengthened to enable them detain people under investigation for corruption for up to 2 months without trial. Anti corruption courts that will dispense justice within a month should be established. Public officials with immunity should be stripped of the immunity if it involves corruption cases. Convicted people should be given jail sentences that are not less than 12 years and also they should be barred from contesting election or participate in politics. Presidential pardons to corrupt officials should be supported by two third majority of the national assembly.